I learned how to level-up my degree, and you can too

If you think about university the way I did in my first year, you think of your undergraduate career as a stepping stone TO something great. This is not wrong; your undergraduate degree may be a key step to landing your dream career or pursuing further education. The mistake you may make is thinking of it as something to simply get through. Your time as an undergraduate student does not need to only lead to something great — it can be great in itself.

Before my co-op placement in the Faculty of Environment, I thought I knew how to make the most of my university experience — little did I know how oblivious I was. Through sharing my main takeaways, I hope other students can discover how to maximize their experience at SFU and be inspired to take their own undergraduate careers to the next level.

Advocate for yourself

Putting yourself out there is necessary to take advantage of all the opportunities available at university. As a naturally shy person, I understand how difficult it can feel to step out of your comfort zone to connect with a stranger. Advocating for yourself is a skill, and for me it required taking small steps such as asking questions in my professor’s office hours to build up my confidence. Through pushing myself to ask for help when I needed it, I was able to build connections, which ultimately led to me being the one planning events I used to be too afraid to attend.

Get Involved

Whether it is finding a home in a community of people with similar interests, practicing important skills that can be added to a resume, or building connections, getting involved can make your experience both enjoyable and more valuable.

A great place to start is your Departmental Student Union (DSU). DSUs plan social events, collaborate with their department and faculty, and advocate for the values of students at the university level. You can grow your network and gain skills to add to your resume.

Clubs and recreation programs are also a great way to connect with students and find a community of people with similar interests. Whatever you are passionate about, there is likely a club that exists for it, and if not, you can start your own! You will be surprised how many kindred spirits you will find.

Take advantage of volunteer and paid opportunities that are promoted by both your faculty and department to build employable skills, meet references, and add hours to your Co-curricular Record (CCR). Your CCR is an official document that records your extracurricular activity and can be used as supporting documentation when applying for jobs or further schooling — it is a very good idea to make sure it isn’t blank when you finish your undergrad!

Utilize Supports

Navigating university is complicated, and that is exactly why resources are put in place to support students. As I mentioned, it is important that you advocate for yourself to take advantage of these resources. Whether it is visiting your academic advisor regularly, contacting Career and Volunteer Services, or attending any undergraduate forums hosted by the Faculty or your department, there is no downside to accessing support.

Take my word for it!

University culture is what we make it, and the tools and opportunities are all in place for it to be dynamic, fun, and rewarding. I am thrilled to be able to share what I have learned about how to take full advantage of all the opportunities available to my fellow students. I want to leave you with this: Why wait for something great? Make the most of your time as an undergrad, it has always been within reach to level up your degree.